How Freight Transportation Services Feed Your Family?
A number of different transportation modes play a part in the intricate system of food distribution provided by freight transportation services. A variety of shipments may need the use of trucks, railcars, barges, ocean-going ships, or airplanes. For important or perishable commodities, planes are typically employed, whereas barges and ocean-going boats are used for international imports and exports. In the food supply chain, railcars are the second most popular form of transportation and are often utilized for shipments that are longer than 750 miles. The majority of food shipments under 500 miles are transported by trucks, which are the most popular mode of transportation. A very adaptable and quick way of transportation is using a Third-Party Logistics (3PL) organization to organize truck freight services.
How do you Transport Food Safely?
Food shipments that must be consumed quickly must be transported quickly, cold, and hygienically kept. Best practices for freight transportation services including the delivery of food are outlined in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of the FDA. To ensure that food shipments arrive uncontaminated and as fresh as possible, food transporters are mandated under the FSMA to establish a sanitary transport strategy. The use of the right equipment, controlling temperature, and enforcing cleanliness procedures are just a few of the regulations that apply to freight firms that provide food transportation services.
Biggest Challenges in Food Transportation
Temperature and time are the two most crucial factors to take into account when using freight transportation services to move food. Food spoilage during travel may be prevented by properly packing food and clearly identifying temperature requirements on the package. Include precise comments like “Frozen” or “This Side Up” to avoid misunderstandings that can cause spills or damaged goods. You can guarantee that the heat is kept out and the cold is kept in by using well-insulated, sealed containers. Food shipments must be kept within a certain temperature range to prevent the growth of germs that would otherwise cause the food to deteriorate.
How much Freight Transportation is Transporting Food?
The majority of food shipments are delivered by truck freight, which accounts for 70.5% of all food shipments. Deliveries are made by rail for 17%, ships for 8%, and airplanes for 4.5%. Grocery shops would run out of food in three days if long-haul truckers stopped operating, according to estimates. Food has a short shelf life, so another shipment to resupply the shelves is always on the horizon. Regular refrigerated truck shipments are the greatest approach to maintaining fresh food stocked because of the adaptability and speed of freight transportation services. Nearly 23% of the truck-trailer industry is made up of these refrigerated vehicles, or reefers for short.
Conclusion
Both imports and exports of agricultural freight transportation services from the United States have increased. The expansion of food commerce has been greatly aided by modern refrigeration techniques and effective freight transportation infrastructure. With the use of this technology, farmers and food producers may enhance the variety of food accessible while also expanding their market.
